Key takeaways
Glipizide/metformin (Metaglip) and glyburide (Glynase) are medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Both help lower blood sugar, but they have several differences between them. Glipizide/metformin is a combination of glipizide and metformin. Both medications work by telling your pancreas to release insulin, but glipizide/metformin also reduces the amount of sugar your body makes and absorbs. Glipizide/metformin is usually taken once or twice daily, and can cause side effects like diarrhea and lactic acidosis. Glyburide is taken once daily with the largest meal and can cause side weight gain. Unlike glipizide/metformin, glyburide has a formulation that is absorbed better by the body. Both medications are available as low-cost generics and carry risks of heart problems and low blood sugar, but glipizide/metformin also has an increased risk of low vitamin B12 levels.
